Chapter 19: I see, now it's time to confront the cat master!

"Damn, I didn't see that excessive flattery coming!"

"That unexpected charm offensive nearly threw my back out!"

"Is this... is this a plan to flatter Xiaoqiao into a good mood and let her guard down?"

"Director, it's just a fox, huh? Can it really understand what you're saying?"

"If this works, I will literally eat my keyboard right here and now!"

Fang Ye hadn't actually intended to coax Xiaoqiao into happiness with just a few compliments.

Unless he had learned animal speak at some point, that might have been a little possible.

At that moment, he naturally activated his "Affable" skill, using excessive flattery as a cover!

He continued to praise: "Your figure is so elegant, and those erect ears of yours also look so spirited! You're like a fairy from the moon palace, with such a pure and ethereal quality! You are the prettiest girl in our zoo!"

As the flattery piled on, Xiaoqiao suddenly stopped baring her teeth and looking fierce. She turned her head away as if she was somewhat embarrassed about being praised so much?

Fang Ye struck while the iron was hot, "Xiaoqiao, let me comb your fur and give you a bath to make you even prettier, okay?"

"Ying ying~"

Xiaoqiao tilted her head as if to say: I'm... I'm actually very clean and don't need a bath! But since you're so eager to bathe me, I'll just reluctantly agree...

When he reached out to pick her up this time, she only put up a symbolic struggle before being cradled in his arms.

Seeing this utterly shocking and unbelievable scene, the viewers were all gobsmacked!

"Holy shit, it actually understands!"

"This is freaking unreal, can somebody tell me how he did that? Is he hiding some treat up his sleeve or something?"

"Last time, the Director communicated with a tiger, and this time with a fox; this can't just be a coincidence, right?"

"There's only one truth, and that is that the Director can speak to animals!"

"Incredible! I'm bowing down to the Director!"

"I've learned a lot, I'm going to try this out with my cat at home!"

Xiaojiao's terrifying demeanor previously wasn't an act!

Therefore, the fact that Fang Ye could get close to Xiaojiao made it even more admirable!

A deluge of gifts started flooding the screen.

"Linger" gifted 99 rice balls!

"MC Who Refuses to Become a Heavenly Master" sent a rocket!

Seeing the comments, Fang Ye explained seriously, "Everyone, don't be so amazed. I don't know any animal language. But if you treat animals with your heart, they can feel it! The trick is four words, 'sincere treatment'!"

What he didn't know was that someone had already clipped a part of the live stream and uploaded it with the title "Man Furiously Praises with Flattery, and the Little Fox Blushes?" to B Site!

People who loved cute pets clicked on the video out of curiosity and found that the title wasn't a lie!

After Fang Ye praised with a face full of affection, Xiaoqiao turned her head shyly—the slow-mo close-up at this point gave viewers a genuine heart-fluttering feeling.

"666666" "Such an adorable fox, I've fallen in love!" "The fox can understand compliments and even feel shy, my friends and I are astounded!" "This is a zoo, right? Does anybody know where? I want to visit!"

The video's view count soared rapidly, garnering thousands of likes in just a short time.

...

Cute plushies arranged on a dainty little rack, a fluffy rabbit pillow, slippers with cartoon patterns, and a pink-toned mattress...

This was a bedroom that screamed teenage girl.

The room's owner, a ponytailed girl named Tang Xiaoxin, was sitting in front of her computer with her smooth feet propped up, holding a chubby black British Shorthair cat, engrossed in the video.

She was a 13-year-old junior high student!

It was the middle of summer vacation, and every day after she finished the learning tasks agreed upon with her parents, she would either hang out with classmates or stay at home, watching anime and scrolling through videos on B Site.

Having a British Shorthair at home, Tang Xiaoxin's favorite pastime was watching adorable animal videos, and most of the uploaders she followed were in the pet category.

"Wow, what a beautiful fox!"

The thumbnail of a video featuring a silver fox with sleek fur and an elegant posture had captured Tang Xiaoxin's attention!

She clicked in.

This silver fox looked like an unapproachable, haughty iceberg, its gaze exuding an icy chill!

The first impression it gave off was ferocity and coldness, a warning to keep strangers away!

Yet the man opposite didn't mind being snubbed at all, and even started to shower it with fluffy praise!

"Majestic ears, a temperament like a fairy, hahaha..."

Tang Xiaoxin was amused by this utterly unabashed flattery, laughing so hard she could barely keep upright, but then she saw the silver fox drop its fierce demeanor, shyly turn its head away, no longer resisting being embraced by the man, leaving her mouth agape in surprise!

"That's so magical!"

Instinctively, Tang Xiaoxin looked down at the round British Shorthair in her arms and lifted it to eye level.

The British Shorthair was quiet and calm, its pancake-like face staring at her with round, wide eyes.

Although British Shorthairs were known to be rather gentle and quiet cats, Tang Xiaoxin always felt that hers was particularly simple-minded.

"Ahem, ahem!"

She cleared her throat and looked sincerely into the British Shorthair's eyes, "Little Blackie, your... face is like the full moon on the fifteenth, your... fur is as smooth as silk with the richness of Dove milk chocolate, your paws, softer than a mattress, your motionless figure, possess an ethereal quality akin to Rodin's sculpture 'The Thinker,' you are the cutest cat in our community..."

As she reached the last line, she even felt a bit embarrassed, her confidence waning, her voice two notches weaker.

This simple-minded, dazed look was somehow strange to describe as cute...

After staring at each other for a long while, Little Blackie's expression seemed to grow even more serious!

"Really now, at least meow back at me or something!" Tang Xiaoxin said, disappointed, and put Little Blackie down, rubbing its head, "Never mind, I like your dorky side too."

Without uttering a sound, Little Blackie adjusted its position, body softening into a puddle and pressing down on her legs like a big pancake.

After hitting the like button, she casually left a comment: "I tried it on my cat at home, and it didn't work at all, this fluffy praise is fake, it must have special effects!"

Checking the other comments, a popular one explained: "The video is from Linhai Zoo, and the guy is Zoo Director Fang Ye, a magical person! I recommend watching another video of the director cuddling and playfully romping with a tiger!"

It was accompanied by a link.

While Tang Xiaoxin was curious about how the director managed to play intimately with a tiger, what concerned her more was something else.

"Linhai Zoo?"

She was studying at Linhai No.3 Middle School!

There was a zoo in Linhai City too, how come she hadn't heard of it?

She instantly slipped into her cartoon-patterned slippers and scampered out of her bedroom, "biabiabia".

In the living room, her parents were lounging on the sofa, watching a matchmaking variety show and occasionally commenting on the performances of the male and female guests.

"Dad, Mom! Do we have a zoo in Linhai City?"

Father Tang and Mother Tang exchanged a smile.

"We do! When you were little, we even took you there!"

"What?" Tang Xiaoxin was bewildered, "How come I don't remember?"